Angela Merkel wins fourth term

Christian Democratic Union CDU party leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts after winning the German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2017.

Angela Merkel wins fourth term

The German politician has been re-elected as Chancellor.

Angela Merkel wins fourth term

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has won a fourth term in the position, with her CDU/CSU winning 33% of the vote. Despite the poor results of her CDU/CSU – the worst numbers since 1949, reports BBC – the alliance is still the biggest in parliament.

Speaking after her win, Merkel said that, while she had hoped for a better result, she was ready for another term. Migration would be a key issue, she stated, as well as economic and security issues. “We now have a mandate to assume responsibility and we’re going to assume this responsibility calmly, talking with our partners of course,” she said.

At the same time as Merkel was re-elected, nationalists made a surprising surge of historic proportion. Right-wing populist party AfD won its first seats, sparking protest among citizens who disagree with the party’s anti-Islam stance. Demonstrations outside AdD’s Berlin headquarters followed the announcement, with protestors holding signs says “Refugees are welcome.”